SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA:PRIMERA LIGA top scorer Samuel Eto'o netted twice as Barcelona beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 at Camp Nou last night to restore their 12-point advantage at the top of the table.
Champions Real Madrid had trimmed Barca’s lead to nine with Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Racing Santander but the Cameroon international’s 20th and 21st strikes of the season and a Daniel Alves goal lifted them to 59 points from 22 matches.
Andres Iniesta sprinted out of defence to help set up the opener on 24 minutes. The Spain international found Thierry Henry in space on the left and Eto’o turned his precise centre into the net past goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente.
The home side were 2-0 ahead before the break when Lionel Messi cut in from the right wing and threaded a pass through to Eto’o, who turned defender Gerard Autet and rifled home.
Alves burst into the area and smashed in from an acute angle with just over an hour gone before Sporting midfielder Kike Mateo pulled one back two minutes later with a smart strike from the edge of the area.
Valencia missed the opportunity to move into third spot after losing 1-0 at struggling Osasuna last night.
Third placed Sevilla also lost, 2-1 at home to local rivals Real Betis on Saturday, to keep them nine points behind Real. They remain a point ahead of Valencia.
